Bhikkhuni Patama

Thailand

Bhikkhuni Patama was born on November 25, 1946. Her mother and father were rice farmers and had four children. She was the youngest child. She had 2 older brothers and one older sister. While her siblings were able to attend school until Primary School grade 4, Bhikkhuni Patama studied until she received her B.A. in Business Management from Ramkhamhaeng University in 1977. She enjoyed to study, and her mother always encouraged her. Both her mother and father worked to raise funds for her education, and she earned several scholarships.

Upon graduation, she worked in Management & Finance at the Thai Government Highway Department for 33 years. When she reached the age of 55, she early retired in order to follow her youthful wish to study Dhamma and ordain. She began to read the Tipitaka.

Upon the death of her mother she received 43 rai of land. She gave her three nieces 8 rai each. The remaining land she kept to build a temple. Step-by-step she proceeded and used her life savings and investment money to create a temple with 6 kutis (dwellings), a multi-purpose hall, and a meditation hall.

She studied the Tipitaka very well, and became the first Thai laywoman (upasika) to be able to recite all 311 Bhikkhuni Rules by memory.

In 2013, she became a Samaneri, and in 2015 she took Bhikkhuni ordination. Next, Bhikkhuni Patama created a foundation to protect her temple, Watra Boonyaniti Patama Jitta Foundation.

Currently, she continues to read the Tipitaka. She also offers scholarships to students, and teaches students to study the Tipitaka. She celebrates the Buddhist holidays at her temple along with the villagers and teaches Dhamma.

Bhikkhuni Patama is now 71 years old, and seeking a student to follow in her footsteps.

Boohyaniti Patama Jitta Temple

199 Mu.11, Ban Nonrawieng

Nong Bua Tak Kiet, Dan Kuntot

Nakorn Ratchasima 30210

Thailand

The International Women’s Meditation Center Foundation received Thai government approval on September 20, 2010.